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MOVIE HAPPENINGS - February 2018
Stunts, Stars and Legends
By John Hagner

 

JEANNIE EPPERJeannie Epper
She has performed stunts in over 100 feature films and television series and is best known as Lynda Carter's body double on the 1970s television series "Wonder Woman." She was featured in Amanda Micheli's 2004 documentary Double Dare, along with New Zealand stuntwoman and actress Zoe Bell. Entertainment Weekly noted that many consider her "the greatest stuntwoman who's ever lived."
Her acting roles have included appearances in "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" (1972). "Foxy Brown" (1974), “Switchblade Sisters" (1975),"Drum" (1972),"Beverly Hills Cop"(1994), “Kill Bill: Volume 2" (2004), and "Quarantine" (2008).
Her family traces its lineage back to "a colonel in Napolean's army" and his great-grandson, a multi-lingual Swiss who eventually lived in California where he began the family tradition in stunt work.
“Danger” is their middle name. Don't let the tranquil smiles fool you. You're looking at some of the world's most fearless daredevils. Meet the Eppers. Hollywood's reigning dynasty of stunt people.Thrill-seeking is in their genes."

MILBURN STONEMilburn Stone
Stone was born in Burrton in Harvey County near Hutchinson in central Kansas. In the 1930s,Stone came to Los Angeles, California, to launch his own screen career. He was featured in the “Tailspin Tommy” adventure serial for Monogram Pictures. In 1940, he appeared with Marjorie Reynolds, Tristram Coffin, and I. Stanford Jolley in the comedy espionage film “Chasing Trouble”. That same year, he co-starred with Roy Rogers in the film “Colorado” in the role of Roger’s brother-gone-wrong.

In 1955, one of CBS Radio’s hit series, “Gunsmoke”, was adapted for television and recast with experienced screen actors. Howard McNear, the radio “Dock Adams” was replaced by Stone. He stayed with “Gunsmoke” through its entire television run, appearing in 604 episodes through 1975, often shown sparring in a friendly maner with co-stars Dennis Weaver and Ken Curtis, who played, respectively, Chester Goode and Festus Haggen.

In 1975, Stone received an honorary doctorate from St.Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas, where “Gunsmoke” was set but not filmed.

JOHNNY HAGNER
The month of December was an exciting one for me. My friend,Spice Williams Crosby,famed stuntwoman and Inductee into the Hollywood Stuntmen’s Hall of Fame, contacted me to work with her in a movie called, “ASTRO”, a science-fiction epic, filmed on location in Roswell, New Mexico, where, in 1947, an alien spaceship crash landed in the desert.Johnny Hagner

I played the part of a Scientist (Robert Turner),who,with his Junior Scientist, Spice, and I are pictured in a laboratory, where a masked hoodlum, stuntman Billy Bussey, approaches and grabs her, then proceeds to beat her up. Suddenly, I turn around and attempt to rescue her as he knocks her down. I then grab the hoodlum, who shoves me back, where I crash into some shelving, knocking things off it and onto me. I regain my control and rush at him. He grabs me, turns me around and throws me over a desk, knocking me down on the floor. I reach into the desk drawer and grab a gun and shoot/ him dead. I rush over and assist Spice to safety.

Many thanks to all who were so generous with their kind comments and especially to Spice for having confidence in me.
I just turned 89 years old. I believe I can claim the distinction of being the oldest working stuntman in the business.

 

If interested in learning more about the Hall of Fame, please contact John Hagner (Founder) at 435 260-2160.
email: johnhagner@hotmail.com
Hall of Fame website: www.stuntmen.org

John Hagner (Founder) is also the Artist of the Stars.
His Celebrity Portrait Drawings are available at telephone 435-259-7000,
Mailing address: 50 W. 400 N, Moab, Utah 84532.
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